MetaChat REGISTER   ||   LOGIN   ||   IMAGES ARE OFF   ||   RECENT COMMENTS




artphoto by splunge
artphoto by TheophileEscargot
artphoto by Kronos_to_Earth
artphoto by ethylene

Home

About

Search

Archives

Mecha Wiki

Metachat Eye

Emcee

IRC Channels

IRC FAQ


 RSS


Comment Feed:

RSS

10 April 2009

Ask Mecha: Glass Cutting Okay, so I want to take glass bottles, then cut and smooth the tops, so as to make drinking glasses. Something like this. How would I go about doing that?
If you're willing to buy a uni-tasker, this will do the trick beautifully.
posted by annaramma 10 April | 11:21
Speaking as a former stained-glass enthusiast, the cutting is easy but the smoothing to make it comfortable to drink from is what's going to be difficult.
For glass cutting, you need a tool like this. Get one with oil in it, not this cheapo kind. Basically you score the surface all around, tap with some heavy pliers to get the score in a little deeper, and then use the pliers just outside of your score line (with your other hand right inside the score) to gently break the piece off.

Now you have a sharp rim. You can lightly file the edge (in one direction, moving smoothly around the circle) with a metal nail file, which will make it safe to drink from. But it won't give you a smooth rounded lip like those glasses have. Those glasses were melted with a high temp (my guess is acetylene) torch until they rolled over and melted just a bit. You can't really do that at home unless you have some serious equipment. My butane jeweler's torch wouldn't even come close.

So, you can get the shape but not the comfort. It's probably worth trying one and seeing if you can drink from it comfortably without the melted edge. My guess is no.
posted by rmless2 10 April | 11:37
Wow, thanks annaramma.

That seems like a pretty nice product. It looks like that glass cutter could be bolted to a workbench, which might be pretty convenient.

So the kit is just a glass cutter and polishing cloth, pretty much? I mean, I've already got a torch.

On preview: mine's propane, but I'm guessing that wouldn't work?
posted by box 10 April | 11:39
Propane torch would be worth a try!
I think the appeal of that kit is that it's basically a jig so you don't have to measure or use a ruler to cut in a straight line all around the bottle. But yeah, you could jerry-rig one yourself just as easily.
posted by rmless2 10 April | 11:44
This is a neat idea, box. You could make some really cool glass like this. If you do it, report back with some pics!
posted by BoringPostcards 10 April | 12:05
Yeah, the kits are relatively inexpensive and make it easy to get started on this kind of project. You don't have to have much experience or equipment.

Since you already have a torch, you might want to come up with a DIY set up that would make the cutting easier. Then you could see if the torch would give you the smooth edge. I've only used a dremel tool to file down the edge (similar to the process outlined here), but a flamed lip would look much more professional.
posted by annaramma 10 April | 12:10
glassES
posted by BoringPostcards 10 April | 12:11
Seconding post pictures or results!! It would so cool to be able to do this.
posted by Sil 10 April | 12:14
Yeah, let me know how that goes. I've got glass tools here and would be willing to try something like that for bar glasses.
posted by middleclasstool 10 April | 12:34
If the propane torch doesn't do it, you might try MAPP gas; it burns hotter. It is available in yellow cylinders much like the blue propane ones.
posted by Triode 10 April | 12:55
Ooh, now there's some pressure to try to do this sooner rather than later.

That Etsy person says that their glasses are flame-cut and polished, and I get the impression they've got access to an actual glass studio. I'm kinda wondering what kind of results I can get in the garage.
posted by box 10 April | 12:57
Do it! You know you want too . . . all the cool kids are doing it . . .
(Is that enough peer pressure for you?)

Definitely post pics, I'm curious to see how they turn out.
posted by annaramma 10 April | 13:05
I'm on the bus this morning, || This commercial absolutely cracks me up.

HOME  ||   REGISTER  ||   LOGIN